Transgressing Race

I have just finished reading “Transgressing Race: Readings, Theologies, Belongings” edited by Jione Havea, a very interesting, if at times challenging, read. The book offers Biblical and theological readings from that challenge the segregation caused by racism. “Racism—including racism inspired by Christian faith and by religious elitism—is bloody.” “Racism is the manifestation of a shitstem (to use reggae speak) that segregates, and discriminates against, some people—because of their race. This manifestation comes in many forms, but they share the common drive to deny resources and opportunities from people who are minoritized—because of their race.” The book challenges us to properly address issues, notably issues of race, that damage people, though, in so doing, makes some useful points that have a more general application. There are lots of footnotes and quoted scholars, and I struggled a little, but worth reading – and there were certainly some strong passages that spoke to me powerfully. For example, “Preaching is not so much about telling what we ought to do or what we ought not to do as about witnessing (seeing and acting) how God is at work in the world in front of our eyes and beyond our seeing. A homily becomes even more instructive when it shows how the Reign of God is already being practiced, even if the practice is only partial and far from being perfect. In that sense, preaching is an invitation to join the divine drama, a rehearsal.” “Mary sang her song as a lullaby to Jesus who is to be born 9 months later. The Magnificat defies despair. The Magnificat impregnates hopes. The Magnificat sings of the new world; it beholds a renewed future. The Song echoes in many voices today as many of us continue to sing and praise God who has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; who has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; and who has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.”